guest

¹ American  

[gest] / gɛst /

noun

1. a person who spends some time at another person's home in some social activity, as a visit, dinner, or party.

   Synonyms:

   company

2. a person who receives the hospitality of a club, a city, or the like.

3. a person who patronizes a hotel, restaurant, etc., for the lodging, food, or entertainment it provides.

4. an often well-known person invited to participate or perform in a regular program, series, etc., as a substitute for a regular member or as a special attraction.

5. Zoology. an inquiline.

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verb (used with object)

1. to entertain as a guest.

verb (used without object)

1. to be a guest; make an appearance as a guest.

   She's been guesting on all the TV talk shows.

adjective

1. provided for or done by a guest.

   a guest towel; a guest column for a newspaper.

2. participating or performing as a guest.

   a guest conductor.

Guest ² American  

[gest] / gɛst /

noun

1. Edgar A(lbert), 1881–1959, U.S. journalist and writer of verse, born in England.

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guest British  

/ ɡɛst /

noun

1. a person who is entertained, taken out to eat, etc, and paid for by another

2. 1. a person who receives hospitality at the home of another

      a weekend guest

   2. ( as modifier )

      the guest room

3. 1. a person who receives the hospitality of a government, establishment, or organization

   2. ( as modifier )

      a guest speaker

4. 1. an actor, contestant, entertainer, etc, taking part as a visitor in a programme in which there are also regular participants

   2. ( as modifier )

      a guest appearance

5. a patron of a hotel, boarding house, restaurant, etc

6. zoology a nontechnical name for inquiline

7. informal do as you like

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verb

1. (intr) (in theatre and broadcasting) to be a guest

   to guest on a show

guest Idioms  

1. see be my guest.

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Related Words

See visitor.

Other Word Forms

• guestless adjective

Etymology

Origin of guest

First recorded before 900; Middle English gest, from Old Norse gestr; replacing Old English gi(e)st; cognate with German Gast, Gothic gasts, Latin hostis; host ¹, host ²

Example Sentences

Though packing storytelling into a fast-moving outdoor ride is always a theme park challenge, Universal is doing what it can to make guests feel as if they’re sitting in actual tiny, authentic cars.

From Los Angeles Times

Masino said steps are underway to boost the company’s financial performance and several guest metrics are showing improvement.

From The Wall Street Journal

The events of the wedding have been disputed by some guests.

From BBC

Open the door to the theater, and discover a place of urban enchantment, where a red velvet door and crimson wallpaper beckon guests to come closer and sit inside.

From Los Angeles Times

She argues that care workers enter clients' homes as guests, and only a person can sense whether someone is genuinely suited to such a role.

From BBC

Related Words

• caller
• client
• companion
• customer
• inmate
• patron
• recipient
• tenant
• vacationer
• visitor